US military investigates F-35 fighter jet crash near San Diego
An F-35B fighter jet from the US Marine Corps crashed near Miramar Air Station in San Diego, prompting a military investigation.
Key Takeaways
AIUS military authorities launched an investigation on Friday morning after an F-35B fighter jet from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The pilot ejected safely, and the crash sparked a fire in an uninhabited area.
First Lieutenant Blake Starbuck, spokesperson for Miramar Air Station, said emergency crews responded to the incident at around 10 a.m. local time. He confirmed the jet belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 11, which is based at the air station.
The US Marine Corps classified the incident as a Class A mishap, noting that the downed aircraft was an F-35B and that the pilot ejected before the crash and was recovered afterward, according to FOX NEWS.
Military authorities have not yet released information about the pilot’s condition or the cause of the crash. The base spokesperson added that there are no details yet about the nature of the flight, whether the jet was taking off, landing, or on a training mission.
Footage aired by SkyRanger 7 showed the fighter jet split into two parts after crashing in an area burned over a space roughly the size of a football field.
The crash ignited a fire in a field north of State Route 52, with smoke visible from the highway. Several passersby reported the incident to the California Highway Patrol.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed it assisted in tackling the brush fire caused by the crash, but said military personnel have full jurisdiction over the crash site and incident management.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is located in San Diego, California. Its mission is to operate base facilities and provide services and training areas to support the combat readiness of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and other units stationed there.
The base is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and includes units from Marine Aircraft Group 11, which operates squadrons of F/A-18, F-35B, and F-35C fighter jets, as well as KC-130 aircraft. Other units at the base fly MV-22 Ospreys and CH-53E helicopters.